" I want to ensure I keep my standards up to the same levels I always have"
Former Australia winger Matt Sing has singled out the reputation of Hull coach Peter Sharp for his decision to leave the NRL for Hull FC.
Sing said the presence of Sharp, who took Hull to their first Grand Final last season, made his mind up.
"I knew exactly what sort of coach Peter was before I came over here," the 31-year-old told BBC Sport.
"The fact he is in charge definitely played a big part in why I wanted to come to Hull."
Hull won the Challenge Cup under John Kear in 2005, but Sharp has taken the team up a notch since taking over in April last year.
The former Parramatta assistant boss led Hull to a club record 13 consecutive wins and second place in the Super League table before taking them to the Grand Final.
And Sing was able to sit back in Australia and watch his new team embark on their impressive run, having already agreed to join the Airlie Birds.
"I signed pretty early in the season so it was before they reached the Grand Final," he said.
"So it was great for me to watch from Australia as they played so well as the season went on, and got to the Grand Final."
Sing's statistics in the sport make for impressive reading: he won 15 caps for Australia and played 24 times for Queensland in State of Origin.
And he is also North Queensland Cowboys all-time top tryscorer with 60 tries in 80 games.
"I've also been very impressed with Kirk Yeaman and Gareth Raynor in training"
"What also attracted me to Hull was the challenge of a new environment," he added. "It was a great opportunity to experience a new league and a new country.
"I've only ever been to England when I've been on tour with Australia, and you don't really get the chance to see the country properly in that situation."
But despite his excitement at his move to Super League, Sing admitted that such a major upheaval presented its own challenges off the pitch.
"My wife and two daughters have come over with me, and we've got another child on the way," said Sing.
"It's tough for the family, no doubt. It's a different lifestyle over here, and it's a long, long way from home for us all.
"The weather isn't quite what we're used to, but we didn't expect anything different.
"We're all adjusting to all the changes at the moment, but we've been made to feel very welcome by everyone at the club."
And Sing, who insisted he was not concerned by the prospect of following Nathan Blacklock at Hull, said there was one particularly familiar face at the training ground.
"I'll hopefully be playing with Sid Domic which will be great," said Sing.
"I've known him since school so we go back a long way. I'm really looking forward to playing with him again and we seem to be on the same wavelength in training.
"I've also been very impressed with Kirk Yeaman and Gareth Raynor - they are a terrific combination.
"I want to make sure I keep my standards up to the same levels I always have."